Landrieu Puts Hold on Immigration Amendments

Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., blocked action on immigration amendments late Wednesday after fuming that the Senate’s troublemakers were getting votes on their amendments while hers were stalled.

“I want to lead, but it’s getting very difficult in this place to do any leadership,” Landrieu said. “So, I’m just going to sit here until maybe somebody that is a leader around here can come talk to us about what we’re going to do …

“How many amendments of the [amendments] are noncontroversial, that Republicans and Democrats will agree to, that is my question. I would like an answer,” Landrieu asked. “And my second question is, when could we possibly vote on those amendments before cloture is called?”

Landrieu’s question came as a Senate aide told CQ Roll Call that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was considering filing cloture as soon as Thursday to cut off debate.

Before the end of the final roll call vote in today’s sequence of votes, which actually came on confirming President Barack Obama’s choice of Michael Froman to be U.S. trade representative, Landrieu could be seen on the floor in a heated conversation with Judiciary ranking member Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, and some floor staff, presumably about a proposed way forward on the next batch of amendments following votes on five amendments.

This is by no means the first time Landrieu has launched a procedural objection on the floor. This time, she said she planned to spend the next couple hours hoping to get some resolution.

This objection stems from a way the Senate has operated in recent years, under which some senators, primarily on the minority side, have proved to be adept at securing floor votes on extraneous or contentious amendments to various bills.

“I’ve also been here long enough to realize that the leadership is trying its best, and there’s some amendments that are very controversial. I am not leader of the Senate, fine. But what I’m talking about is, when we get on a major bill like this, and members work hard to build support and to get bipartisan support, our amendments that are noncontroversial should go first,” Landrieu said. “But, that’s not what happens around here. What happens around here is the guys that cause all the trouble all the time on every bill … I don’t want to name their names because it’s not appropriate, but there’s a group on the other side and few maybe on our side. They’re never really happy with anything, and so they file tons of amendments and we spend all of our time worrying about their amendments, and those of us that spend a lot of our time building bipartisan support, that offer amendments that have no opposition, actually never get to those amendments.”

“This is really sad, and I’ve basically had enough,” said Landrieu. “I’ve come every day and said, ‘you know, are any of these amendments going to get in the queue?’ But, that’s not the way we’re working right now. We’re taking the worst amendments, the most controversial amendments. The guys that cause trouble on every single bill, and we give them votes on their amendments. Some of them have been defeated 99-1 … and they everybody says, ‘we’re tired, we’re aggravated, we’re calling cloture.'”

Landrieu then noted that once cloture is invoked, amendments that are not pending and germane fall by the wayside, including amendments that are not particularly controversial.

In the lengthy floor speech that seemed to be delivered off the cuff, the Louisiana Democrat said that the procedural antics had made the Senate look much more like a theater than a legislature, and that if she wanted to be involved in that business, she would live in New York.

giatny

June 19, 2013
10:20 p.m.

Guest

June 27, 2013
3:02 p.m.

I’m from Louisiana and am a Libertarian however i know many who are Dems and Reps and i can tell you for a fact most ALL of them are upset and some really angry over her support of this Bill! I’m almost certain Rubios’ career is over but i have a feeling ms. Landrieu had better start typing her resume as well. This vote is very likely going to end her career in the senate!

Anonymous

July 4, 2015
4:58 a.m.

Anonymous

July 4, 2015
12:54 p.m.

Anonymous

July 6, 2015
7 p.m.

I haven’t checked in here for some time as I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend :)

July 7, 2015
5:16 p.m.

Anonymous

July 9, 2015
4:44 a.m.

Definitely believe that that you said. Your favourite reason appeared to be at the internet the simplest factor to be mindful of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while other folks think about issues that they just don’t recognize about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest and also outlined out the whole thing with no need side effect , folks could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

Anonymous

July 11, 2015
9:23 a.m.

Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!

Anonymous

July 12, 2015
2:20 p.m.

There are actually a lot of particulars like that to take into consideration. That could be a great level to carry up. I offer the thoughts above as common inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you bring up where a very powerful factor can be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged round things like that, however I am certain that your job is clearly identified as a good game. Each boys and girls really feel the impact of only a second’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.

Anonymous

July 13, 2015
3:21 p.m.

Anonymous

July 13, 2015
7:28 p.m.

The following time I learn a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to learn, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you possibly can repair in the event you werent too busy searching for attention.

Anonymous

July 14, 2015
1:22 a.m.

Anonymous

July 17, 2015
7:06 a.m.

Whats up very nice site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I’m satisfied to find numerous useful info here in the put up, we’d like work out more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

Anonymous

July 17, 2015
7:57 a.m.

Good day very nice web site!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I am glad to find a lot of useful info right here within the put up, we need work out more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing.

Anonymous

July 20, 2015
2:28 p.m.

Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your website is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched all over the place and simply could not come across. What an ideal web site.

Anonymous

July 25, 2015
11:15 p.m.

Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any tips for novice blog writers? I’d genuinely appreciate it.

July 28, 2015
4:27 p.m.

Roll Call Video Picks

About #WGDB

Niels Lesniewski has covered the Senate for CQ Roll Call since January 2010, and more recently as a staff writer and resident procedure guru for Roll Call. Niels holds degrees in both government and theater but sometimes can't tell the difference between the two. @nielslesniewski